Bulldogs come from behind to win as Panthers lose Gordon

The Bulldogs came from behind to win, but the major talking point of the game, is going to be a potential long-term injury to Panthers winger Michael Gordon, who fractured his fibula.

In a dramatic game that saw the Panthers lead 12-0 at one stage, the departure of Gordon rattled the Penrith club, allowing the Bulldogs to score 22 unanswered points, giving the Dogs a 22-14 win in front of a tough away crowd.

Despite the Dogs win however, it may have come at a cost, with second-rower Frank Pritchard put on report, after his shoulder made contact with the head of Penrith winger, David Simmons.

The tackle was a near carbon copy of a similar one from the 2011 season, though it was Sharks utility Wade Graham on the receiving end of that one â€“ a game that Pritchard got away with.

The first-half was mostly the Panthers, with the Dogs only getting the ball rolling late in the 2nd half, after some crafty play from five-eighth Josh Reynolds.

Whilst he defended his playerâ€™s tackle, Dogs coach Des Hasler knows that a trip to the NRLâ€™s new headquarters, is imminent.

“There was nothing malicious about it, was there?” he said.

“There was nothing nasty about the tackle but I think we’ll need to check some of the rules … we might be the first ones to use the new judiciary room.”

Back to the Panthers, the news was tough to take in relation to Gordon, with the club tweeting the prognosis â€“ one that was not very good.

“We’ve got a bit of carnage coming out of it as well injury-wise, tough first night,” he said.